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Oil Field Engines & Related EquipmentOFES members otherwise known as "Oafs". If you like "BIG OLD GREASY RUSTY OIL FIELD ENGINES, you're in the right place. Founded by Russell Farmer.

I have a Bessemer oil field engine that is currently located in the original engine house and has been untouched for more than fifty years. I would like to relocate the derrick, fulcrum, engine house and engine to a new location and resurrect the entire site and make it fully operational. I am looking for OFES members that would like to get involved in the project. The site is located near Morgantown and the new site will be on the same property. The purpose of the move is to restore the rig and preserve it for future generations. I would like to make the rig available to OFES members to enjoy after the move is complete.

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Re: Bessemer Oil Field Engine Found in Original Engine House Needs Rescue

The Wood County Historical Society in Bowling Green, Ohio has a steam powered drilling rig with steel derrick very similar to this one. I believe the derrick came from West Virginia. The steam engine and boiler came from Lima, Ohio where they had a wooden derrick that was not salvageable. We run it under steam during our Heritage Days show.www.woodcountyhistory.org

Re: Bessemer Oil Field Engine Found in Original Engine House Needs Rescue

Looking at the derrick, it appears to be a drilling rig. The drilling rigs are a bit rare, as they were typically moved from well to well. Most of the derricks that survived into the late 1900's and early 2000's are baling rigs. The baling rigs are typically made out of pipe. And sometimes smaller.

I helped move a drilling rig in 1986 (I was 16) to NationalPike, just north of Morgantown. We then re-moved the rig to a new location on the fairgrounds last year. (www.nationalpike.com)

I removed two other rigs and rebuilt one for another individual.

Drop me a line sometime and I'll share what I know. I"m also somewhat local to Morgantown (about an hour away). I would like to see more pics of the rig.